Ed and Darla Rodgers in Wisconsin to volunteer this weekend

Ed and Darla Rodgers first met Tom Benning and the 33-foot motor home named the ‘GB Brat’ he co-owns with Chuck Miesfeld at a Packers game in Lambeau a couple of years ago. The couple stopped by the bus, totally decorated in Packers stuff, had a “double” bratwurst offered by Benning and exchanged small talk for about a half hour. They were friendly but after the couple left, someone asked Benning if he knew who they were.

He did not.

They were Aaron Rodgers’ parents.

“So I scooted out the door and caught up to them,” said Benning.

He explained that the motor home wasn’t just for tailgating parties but also for helping promote a volunteer group called Miesfeld’s Lakeshore Weekend for Kids, which raises money for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Last year, Ed and Darla returned to see how the group was doing and even brought some mustard made from Chico, Calif. for the brats, of course. In June, Benning called the Rodgers and threw the idea out there: and Ed and Darla agreed – they would come to Wisconsin to volunteer for the next event, which is this weekend in Sheboygan.

“You know what? They were so willing to do that,” said Benning.

After fishing in Lake Michigan on Thursday, Rodgers' parents caught up with their son, the the first practice of training camp on Friday morning in Green Bay. After that, they had a busy weekend planned, helping out.

“It’s amazing that they came all the way out here from California, but I don’t think they were planning on coming to training camp,” said Benning. “They’re here for the kids.”

Ed and Darla’s volunteer shifts cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday and everything from the food to the silent auction to the kid’s area and a raffle.

“We wanted to give back to the community, and we just hadn’t done anything like that before,” Ed Rodgers told the Sheboygan Press in a telephone interview from his home in California. “It was just a great opportunity to get into (volunteering).”

Chuck Miesfeld, owner of Miesfeld’s Meat Market, is the major sponsor of Miesfeld’s Lakeshore Weekend for Kids. He threw his support behind the event, which was created after Brian Cvetan died in a motorcycle accident in August 2008. Cvetan used to read to children at the hospital, so his brother, Don Cvetan and Don’s wife, Donna, wanted to memorialize Brian with a fundraiser for CHW.

Last year, the Sheboygan event raised $107,500, said Benning.

"We all know of Rodgers, and we're all fans of his and that he's really a down to earth human being," said Benning. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."